WOMEN VICTIMISED BY FLASH YOUNG MAN.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18051, 27 September 1920, Page 8

WOMEN VICTIMISED BY FLASH YOUNG MAN.

SEQUEL IN MELBOURNE COURT

(From Odb Own Correspondent.) . SYDNEY, September 7. Qnite a notable person, for some time, in Sydney, was Charlie Shoobert, who posed as a sort of super-bookmaker, and was affectionately referred to by a certain class of "lady" as "one of the best-dressod men in town," He was what the Americans call "a lounge lizard"—that is, he was a regular ornament in the lounges and winter gardens of the Hotel Australia, Hotel Carlton and Usshers. He spent money lavishly, was received by the more flashy class of wealthy people here, and maintained a. luxurious apartment at Potts Point. Then quite suddenly the police pounced on "Charlie." There were unpleasant stories about his betting transaction with Sydney women —tho statement being freely made that he had swindled them—but none of them could be induced to prosecute. The methods he had employed, however, interested tho police, and they took him off to Melbourne to see how he measured up with the description of a gentleman of a different name, who was wanted for a series of frauds against women in the southern capital. _ He had worn out half a dozen aliases since he had been in Melbourne, but he proved' to be the same suave young gentleman. Hie methods were simplicity itself. Attired in fine raiment and displaying irreproachable manners, he had haunted the Melbourne hotel lounges and gradually scaped acquaintance with the type of women who frequent such places. These women are by no means persons of loose character, but they are now quite a distinct type. They are mostly young women who have found themselves in circumstances a good deal easier than they have been accustomed to, but who are without the social activities which aro available to those who have been born to wealth. These newly-rich women dress extravagantly, have tho use of luxurious houses and motor cars, and turn readily to the racecourse, the hotel lounge, and the theatre. They seem to have no other avenues open to them, and they are very desirous of being thought smart and " sporting." Shoobort, posing as a wealthy young bookmaker, found these women the easiest prey. The charges which were ultimately laid against him in Melbourne showed that u 11 Vlctlmise<:l haJi a dozen women who had the courage to como into the open ?u i. ? y , char ? ea - He simply told them that he knew of "a good thing," and the women handed him numerous sums, varying from £20 to £100 to invest for them ilo generally succeeded in getting half a tlozens sums from each woman before she became suspicious and closed her purse. Ho Persuaded most of teem that; he had an infallible system." Tho polico found that the man had a long, list of convictions as a swindler and rogue. He was sentenced to six years' imprisonment and declared an habitual criminal. The case caused quite a senS&J? «*'" «««lf» in Sydney where rt ft* 8 th{ s P olice ™«e hunting for the Melbourne swindler, was a very prominent and popular fijrure y p